Packers Activate Derek Sherrod and Scott Tolzien, Send Jermichael Finley to Injured Reserve

The Green Bay Packers announced a trio of roster transactions today, while reports are surfacing about a fourth.

First, the team placed tight end Jermichael Finley on injured reserve. Finley suffered a bruised spinal cord during the Packers' week 7 game against the Cleveland Browns and spent some time in the Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital. Finley said he hopes to play again, but with the Packers' roster in its current state (and with the need to bring another quarterback onto the active 53), the team needed to make a decision sooner rather than later with Finley. Unfortunately, he will have to wait until next season (and his next contract) to play football again.

The Packers also placed rookie inside linebacker Sam Barrington on injured reserve today. Barrington went down in Monday's game against Chicago with a hamstring injury. The Packers have shut Barrington down for the season as well, leaving the Packers with three healthy inside linebackers: A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones, and Jamari Lattimore.

Occupying one of the roster spots will be Derek Sherrod, who was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list. Sherrod began practicing three weeks ago, on the first day he was eligible to do so. Sherrod gives the Packers better depth at the tackle position, which they will need in the immediate future. With T.J. Lang suffering a concussion, Don Barclay moved to right guard which forced backup tackle Marshall Newhouse in at right tackle. Sherrod will likely back up Newhouse (and David Bakhtiari at left tackle).

The other transaction was not officially announced yet by the Packers, but news of the move comes courtesy of Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

The #Packers are promoting QB Scott Tolzien to the 53-man roster, per source. Just gave him a raise on practice squad last week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 5, 2013

This might be the least-surprising transaction of all. With Aaron Rodgers on the shelf thanks to his fractured collarbone, the Packers needed a backup quarterback in case something happens to Seneca Wallace. In typical Ted Thompson fashion, the team has elected to do so by promoting Tolzien instead of searching for a free-agent solution.

The Packers' 53-man roster now has three quarterbacks on it for the first time this season and the first time since 2011.

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